Oldenburg District: Monastery, Heath and Hunte

Monastery History and Architecture in Hude

Founded in 1232, Hude Cistercian Monastery was named “Portus Sancte Marie”, meaning “Harbour of Saint Mary”. It quickly became the spiritual, economic and political centre of the eastern part of the County of Oldenburg. The monastery ruins preserve the remains of a three-aisled basilica with an expansive transept. The original church was over 57 metres long and over 24 metres wide. These dimensions give a sense of the building’s scale: the transept extends across the long church building, while the three-aisled basilica is divided into several longitudinal sections. The museum at Hude Monastery displays models illustrating the building’s history, archaeological finds, maps and texts about the Cistercians. A scriptorium where visitors can practise writing with a quill adds a further dimension to these themes by introducing medieval writing practices.

Heathland and Archaeology at the Pestrup Burial Ground

South of Wildeshausen, the Pestrup Burial Ground lies in heathland and pine forest. This archaeological site is of significance beyond the region; the burial ground is also the largest contiguous area of heathland in Oldenburg District. Both short and longer walks are possible there. You can explore the landscape on foot, while the site’s archaeological significance offers another way to connect with the place. The contrast between heathland and pine forest also makes the area appealing to anyone who would rather not focus their excursion on just one historical topic.

Walking Through the Wardenburg Letheniederung

The Lethe Nature Trail begins at the Wardenburg watermill by the Lethe Bridge. From there, it lies west of Wardenburg’s town centre in the “Lethe” nature reserve. The circular trail is about three kilometres long and leads through the Wardenburg Letheniederung. Its stated length is therefore quite different from that of the Hunte canoe route. This provides a useful comparison when planning your excursions: a short circular walk through lowland scenery contrasts with a longer river route, and the two activities need not involve the same pace of vacation.

Experience the Hunte by Canoe

The 40-kilometre canoe route on the Hunte runs from Wildeshausen to Oldenburg. Along the section through the Wildeshausen Geest, the river route passes sandbanks, steep banks and forests. The route has 11 launch and landing sites, 10 rest areas and 11 educational trail panels. This means it can be described not only by its length but also by these different stops. Compared with the approximately three-kilometre circular trail in Wardenburg, it is the longer option on the water. If you are planning a vacation with different types of excursions, you can make the contrast between a walk and a canoe trip one of your priorities.

Choose Your Excursion Focus and Holiday Apartment

When looking for a holiday apartment in Oldenburg District, your preferred type of excursion can be a useful starting point: Hude offers monastery history and a museum; the Pestrup Burial Ground and Lethe Nature Trail are suited to walks; and the Hunte is ideal for a canoe trip. Before narrowing down your options, make a note of the destinations that matter most to you.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Großenkneten, Wildeshausen, Kirchseelte, Harpstedt, Ganderkesee, Dötlingen, Hatten, Kirchhatten, Hude, Wardenburg, Oldenburg.

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